Null caught her before gravity could. Her weight fell into his arms without a shred of resistance, unconscious and entirely defenceless.
Sora sagged in his arms.
He knelt, cradling her as if she were fragile. "Sora..."
No response. Her respiration was shallow, her complexion pale from mana depletion, and her pristine lashes rested against her cheeks with a disarming softness.
Null stared, then a soft chuckle escaped him—half in disbelief, half in amusement. "Wow..."
His hand brushed through her hair, the pure white strands slipping through his fingers like liquid silk. "She trusts me this much?" He adjusted her gently. "To drop her guard so completely."
"At first glance, she didn't seem the type." His thumb lingered on her temple. "But everyone has their moments."
"Hm?" The burn on her collarbone, the fractured arm, the faint lacerations—they were closing. The process was silent and unmistakable.. Flesh knitted. Color returned. Breathing stabilized.
Null's eyes widened. "Incredible." He leaned in, fascinated. "She doesn't have an ounce of base mana left. Her {Supernatural Nucleus(SN)} should be emptied. And yet…"
His took a breath. "Her abilities are still functioning. Amazing."
A calm voice responded in his mind. [Objection.]
"Fantasy Omniscience-san?"
[Unique Abilities or Sacred Gifts do not require energy to passively function upon the user.]
"Oh? Continue."
-
[Uniques are not ordinary skills, spells, techniques, or phenomena. They are conceptual laws embedded into an individual's existence.]
"A law."
[Yes. A Personal Law of Reality. Bound to the individual. Possessing the function to rewrite reality in accordance with its defined principle.]
[Unlike conventional powers, Uniques do not consume energy or any resource. Their activation is not governed by expenditure. It is dictated by will and intention]
"So as long as the user retains conscious intent to project their Personal Law of Reality..."
[No suppression restraint can prevent its function.]
His fingers stilled in her hair. "Let me guess. There has to be an 'Unless', right."
[Affirmative. Unless it's a restriction that either directly interferes with the underlying function or the principle upon which it operates.]
"Like a stronger personal law of reality?"
[Affirmative]
"What absurd cheat codes."
-
He glanced at Sora's healing woulds. "Then, isn't she unconscious? Why is it still functioning?"
[Unconscious intent.]
Null tilted his head. "Define it properly."
[Uniques operate in two states.]
[Active State; With the user's conscious will and intention, the unique uses 'internal energy' as a 'medium' to actively rewrite outer-reality in accordance with its principle.]
"Medium? So it needs an understandable expression — a technique, a phenomena —to apply its intrinsic function?"
[Affirmative.]
"And now" He looked at Sora, "that she is depleted of her base Supernatural Nucleus and has became unconscious?"
[Passive State: Even with no conscious intent, the Personal Law of Reality does not become inactive. It shifts to internal operation.]
"Internal, huh?"
[Through the user's unconscious intent for 'existence', the Personal Law of Reality continues operating internally. If it possesses self-directed applications—such as recovery and etc—it passively rewrites the user's own Existential Framework to preserve their being, adhering to their will for 'existence'.]
"Basically, with neither conscious intent nor internal energy as a medium. The personal law of reality's influence is only limited to the user themselves, right?"
[Affirmative]
A long silence settled. Wind moved gently through broken branches. Ash drifted. Null's fingers resumed their slow, absent-minded motion through her hair.
"Unique abilities and sacred gifts are really outrageous cheat powers."
There was no trace of apprehension in his voice—only a quiet, appreciative admiration.
Even when depleted. Even after falling unconscious due to the strain side affect. Her existence itself was being renovated and stabilized by the passive overwrite of her Everlasting Vitalis.
Null adjusted his stance, securing her weight firmly against his chest before standing up. "You pushed yourself too far."
"But... if you're going to entrust your defenseless form to my care like this... I suppose I'll have to take full responsibility for it."
---
※
---
Sora regained consciousness gradually.
The first sensation she registered was a profound internal stabilization. Her magical circuits were restored, her damaged meridians were fully repaired, and her heartbeat was perfectly steady.
Then, she felt a distinct warmth—firm arms supporting her weight and a rhythmic heartbeat that did not belong to her.
Her eyes opened slowly. Null was still cradling her, his posture careful and protective.
"You're awake." His voice was soft, carrying a rare, unmaskable trace of relief.
"I have fully recovered."
"Yeah. I can see that."
She avoided looking at him. "You don't need to continue holding onto me."
"Alright," He carefully let her go.
Sora steadied herself in a sitting posture. Then attentively dusted off her dress. However, she couldn't hide the creeping blush behind her veil.
Null burst out laughing.
She shot him a glare. "You are unnecessarily expressive, Null-san."
"And you're unnecessarily formal the second you're embarrassed."
"I am not—" She stopped. Because she was. The faint flush deepened.
He stood and extended a hand. "Come on."
She stared at his open palm for a second before placing her hand in his. Her grip was firm and warm. He pulled her up effortlessly, bringing her close. They stood facing each other for a suspended, quiet moment before she turned away, "Let us return."
...
They crossed the threshold of the outer transit roads. Lumeris shimmered beneath the crisp afternoon light—its white stone streets, and silver-veined architecture reflecting the sun in soft brilliance. Merchants barked their prices, and children ran through the plazas.
Yet, as they walked side by side along the stone sidewalk, the dynamic between them changed completely.
The distance they kept was appropriate and proper, yet the air between them felt highly charged. Passing citizens slowed their pace, their glances lingering on the pair.
Whenever their eyes accidentally met, Sora would freeze for a second, before looking away, a faint crimson rising to her cheeks.
Null chuckled softly under his breath every single time.
"You're unusually quiet, Miss Saintess."
"I am currently engaged in deep reflection."
"On what, exactly?"
"Nothing of consequence."
He hummed. "Is it about the part where you seemed pretty comfortable resting in my arms?"
Her pristine composure cracked completely. She snapped to a halt. Null took two more steps before noticing her absence and pivoting back. She was staring directly at him, her cheeks flushed pink but her sky-blue eyes burning with an intense, steady focus.
"You are enjoying this for too much."
"Maybe."
"You... you truly are insufferable."
"What does that even mean? I am sure I'm being my normal self."
"Hah... Null-san, that's exactly what it means to be insufferable."
He innocently tilted his head. A nearby couple walking past them exchanged a knowing, amused glance.
They resumed their pace, their steps unconsciously synchronizing. When they reached a quieter, shaded stretch of the road, she spoke again, her voice dropping to a softer cadence. "Thank you."
He looked at her. "For what?"
"For catching me."
He chuckled lightly. "You really think I'd let you hit the ground?"
Her lips curved faintly. Then, catching herself, she suppressed it instantly.
They reached the grand transit plaza bordering the Sanctum perimeter.
The intricate teleportation sigil beneath their boots ignited, casting layered geometric scripts into the air. Sora stepped into position directly beside him—close enough that their shoulders nearly brushed.
The light flared, and they materialized at the inner gates of the Divine Sanctum. The sacred courtyard greeted them with its familiar white marble.
The moment they fully integrated into the space, Sora's posture shifted seamlessly. She became perfectly composed yet also detached. Just saintess sora.
But as they ascended the grand marble steps together, their hands brushed. Just a brief, accidental contact. She stiffened instantly.
Null glanced down. "Careful."
Their hands separated immediately, but the residual warmth remained locked between their fingers.
---
They had barely ascended halfway up the grand ascent when a familiar, imposing presence manifested at the top of the stairs—simply waiting.
"I was beginning to wonder if the two of you intended to return before nightfall."
Elder Priest Ozag stood at the end of the ascent.
"Good afternoon. Elder Ozag. Is there a reason you are waiting for us?"
Ozag studied her for another long beat before offering slow nod. "Her Holiness has explicitly requested your presence upon your immediate arrival."
"Miss holiness?" Null asked lightly.
Ozag's gaze slid to him again. "Yes."
"I understand." She inclined her head toward the elder. "I will meet my master at once."
---